More Articles

When James Russell Jenkins ran into an icy pond in February in an attempt to save a 5-year-old
boy, he was labeled a hero.

He had a hero’s funeral, days after he died in that unsuccessful attempt to save Elijah Walker.
Six Columbus police officers and firefighters carried his casket; dozens more came to honor the
30-year-old father.

In October, he was awarded the Citizen’s Award for Bravery by the Columbus Division of Fire. And
yesterday, he was announced as a recipient of the nation’s highest award for civilian heroism, the
Carnegie Medal.

Still, his family struggles to explain those honors to his now 6-year-old son, Kameron Gilbert,
Jenkins’ father said. Six-year-olds who miss their dads don’t understand the word
hero.

Walter Jenkins, speaking from his home in Gary, Ind., yesterday, said the 10 months since his
son died have been tough. Helping Kameron understand his dad’s absence has been even tougher.

“A hero is a person who is real brave and they take a big chance when they go to help other
people,” he tells his grandson. “Some heroes lose their lives.

“And Kameron, he’s like, ‘Wow!’ (He’s) trying to get it in his head. Kids don’t see things the
way we do.”

James Jenkins was on his way home to the Hartford on the Lake apartments on the East Side on
Feb. 7 when he saw that Elijah had broken through the ice on the complex’s pond. He rushed in,
falling through the ice as well, but held the boy over his head in an attempt to save him. Both
were pulled from the pond by firefighters; both died.

The Carnegie Medal, given by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, is awarded to those who risk
their lives in an extraordinary way to save or attempt to save the life of another. Jenkins’ family
will be given a medal, as well as a $5,000 grant for his actions.

The commission presented 77 awards throughout the U.S. and Canada this year and has recognized
more than 9,600 heroes since the fund’s inception in 1904; 28 of them have been from Columbus.

Jenkins was the only recipient this round who died during his heroic act. About 20 percent of
honorees are awarded the medal posthumously.

Elijah’s family already knew Jenkins’ actions were heroic: In the boy’s obituary, they directed
memorial contributions to Jenkins’ family “for his heroic efforts to save our son.”